Things to Do in Cusco

The first thing probably anyone needs to consider when visiting Cusco — besides acclimatizing to the altitude — is purchasing a Boleto Turistico.

Cusco has far more to see and do than most visitors realize. Choosing what you want to see takes some research and preparation. Some things are nearly can’t miss, but other depend on your personal preference.

Obviously, the number of Inca sites is tremendous. Besides Machu Picchu, there are a number of worthy sites than can be visited in a few hours on an inexpensive half-day tour. Sacsayhuman, Qenko, Tambomachay, and Puka Pukara are all highly interesting sites that I strongly recommend.

Maybe you like museums. Frankly, I’ve never been much into museums, but Cusco has some fantastic ones that I highly recommend. The Machu Picchu Museum is one of my favorites and the Inca Museum can keep you occupied for hours!

I’m not much of a foodie, but the stuff here is excellent. I stay away from the tourist center and the extremely expensive restaurants that abound. You don’t see local people eating there because better and more plentiful meals are available for a far, far less money.

While there are a couple of places I visit to get my bit of “comfort food” the only place I regularly visit are Jack’s Cafe (best breakfasts and service in Peru) and Starbuck’s (great service and my office away from home).

I write about both on the Food in Cusco page.

There are countless other opportunities to explore. In fact, I spend to much time exploring out of the way places in the region, that I have neglected the rest of this website. I simply have too much fun visiting new places! You can read about my explorations and adventures on the Blog page.